Old Manual Focus Prime Lens

Over the last 30 years, photographers have become used to a variety of convenience features such as wide-open auto exposure, auto focus, and zoom lenses. Unfortunately, these features cost us depth-of-focus preview, precision and robustness of physical construction, and the superior IQ of prime lenses. This challenge is for photos created combining the best of both worlds: modern digital image capture and processing with an old, high-quality, manual-focus, prime lens.

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Announced:

Thursday, 22nd October, 2009 (GMT)

Submissions:

Thursday, 29th October, 2009 –
Wednesday, 4th November, 2009
(GMT)

Voting:

Thursday, 5th November, 2009 –
Wednesday, 11th November, 2009
(GMT)

Processing rules:

This is NOT a challenge for "old looking" or "lomo-like" images of deliberately low technical quality; take advantage of the high quality of the old optics used

Capture date rules:

No restrictions.

Additional rules:

Lens used should be at least 25 years old, fixed focal length, and should not support auto focus (a "focus confirm" adapter is ok)

Try to avoid the "elite" $1000+ lenses for this challenge; there are plenty of great 30-year-old lenses under $200

NO FILM CAMERAS: you can use any modern electronic capture device that can mount an old lens, including true DSLRs, finderless micro4/3, C-mount sensors, custom-modified webcams, etc.

Roses with a rose in waiting shot in local Botanical Gardens. Shot with Pentax M 50mm f1.7. This lens was purchased in 1982 along with my ME Super. Both still work great. Aperture was f2.8 for this shot (I think).

Your complaint (along with the complaints of others regarding this entry) will be
reviewed by the challenge owner. Depending upon the nature and applicability of the
complaint, the entry may be disqualified. In extreme circumstances the user who submitted
the entry may receive a ban from the challenge or series in question.